PORT WASHINGTON, NEW YORK

JULY 10, 2016

We have been anchored in Manhasset Bay off Port Washington for 7 days.  After our trip through Hell Gate arriving here was a great relief.  The bay is quite large with many places to anchor.  The tree lined shores have beautiful homes and mansions perched overlooking the water.  The bay is dotted with boats, mostly on mooring balls outside small marinas. It makes quite a stunning view.

MANHASSET BAY SUNSET

Salvatores-Coal-Oven-Pizza

After a couple of days getting our bearings we made a trip into Port Washington to do laundry.  We are anchored on the far side of the bay so it is quite a long ride to the dinghy dock.  Once we reached the dock the grocery was right across the street and the West Marine, laundry and hardware store were just blocks away.  Our errands were soon underway and the laundry running.  When we finished our chores we ducked into Salvatories for a real handmade New York Pizza.  Hmmmmm this might be the best pizza we have ever had.  By late afternoon the dinghy was loaded with fresh laundry, a few groceries, misc. boat parts and pieces and of course a new box of wine.

NEW YORK SUBWAY DOWNTOWN

LONG ISLAND RAILROAD TO PENN STATION

Back on It's Perfect the beds made with clean sheets, laundry put away and wine in hand it was time to make a plan.  We have decided to take this opportunity to go into New York City and we couldn't be in a better place to make the trip.  We have been to New York 3 times in the past and loved every trip.  On Friday we moved the boat to a free mooring ball close to the town dock.  We rose early Sat morning, took the water taxi to the dock and walked about mile into Port Jefferson to catch the 9:11 train into Penn Station.  From there we took the subway to the Natural History Museum and walked across Central Part to the Metropolitan Museum of Art.  We waited until Saturday to have clear weather in the city and so did every other tourist in town.  The subway's were crowded and the museums had long lines.  But this is New York, what would one expect. 

HERSHEY'S CHOCOLATE WORLD

OUR VIEW OF BROADWAY

We meandered our way through the streets of New York riding the subway uptown and downtown.  There was a visible show of armed police and soldiers
in most of the stations and on the streets.  It is sad that in America we find it necessary.  We stopped for lunch just off Times Square at the Olive Garden where we had a great view of  Broadway from the second floor dining room.

METROPOLITAN MUSEUM OF ART

BEAUTIFUL HOMES BETWEEN

THE SKY SCRAPERS

By late afternoon we had enough of all the crowds.  Time to take the subway back to Penn Station and home to It's Perfect.  It sometimes pays to get old, our train tickets in and out of the city cost $5.75 per person and the fees for the museums were almost half.  The ride back to Port Washington took about 40 min and we were soon back at the dock and on our way to It's Perfect.  Once in the cockpit we had much to talk about, it was a wonderful day in the city.

WALKING CENTRAL PARK

It is time to be moving on, we have family coming to visit in Portland, Maine.  Our next stop is in Port Jefferson where we will catch up with friends we made in Grenada. Mike and June Kelly lived aboard Idunno in Mt Hartman Bay, while we were there.  Facebook is a great way to keep in touch, we have watched each others progress since we have been back in the USA.  They now live in Port Jefferson and are expecting our visit.  They have generously offered to receive forwarded mail, give us the use of their laundry and taxi us to and from the grocery.  Over dinner we will take the opportunity catch up with all the sailing news.

It will be a short hop of about 35 miles to the Port Jefferson Harbor and then on to the Cape Cod Canal.  Our time is short before we must turn around for this year and head south for the winter.